NEW YORK – The Columbia women's basketball program and head coach Megan Griffith announced the addition of five new players for the 2025-26 campaign. The Lions welcome in first-years Vasiliki Cholopoulou, Eirny Erinugha, Alicia Mitchell and Shay Shippen, as well as junior transfer out of Mizzou, Hilke Feldrappe.
 
"We are thrilled to welcome our new Lions to Morningside Heights," Griffith said. "Representing from all over the world, this group is eager and hungry to start their journey at Columbia together. We have even greater goals to accomplish next season and more history to write; I know they will be instrumental in helping us elevate to the next level of Columbia Women's Basketball."
 
Details on this season's incoming class are listed below. Fans can access the complete 2025-26 Columbia women's basketball roster by clicking this link.
 
Vasiliki Cholopoulou – 5-10 – Fy. – G – CC – Kozani, Greece / Fryganiotis Schools
Prior to Columbia: Four-year starter and two-year captain for Fryganiotis Schools … Led her team to three straight national finals, earning second place twice and winning the national title as a sophomore … Scored a career-best 31 points in the school championship final as a senior … Played her last three years of club basketball for Panathlitikos Sykeon … Led her team in scoring, rebounding and assists during her first season as a sophomore, was the youngest player on the team's roster and the only U18 player in the division who was a starter … Got her team promoted back to A1 as a junior, earning finals MVP and was the team-leader in scoring and assists … As a senior, led Panathlitikos Sykeon to get promoted to EuroCup Qualifiers for the first time in team history … Seven-time Next Gen MVP of the Week … U23 Player of the Year … Two-time Best 5 Selection … International experience on Greece's U16 (2021-23) and U18 (2024) national teams … Earned first Senior National Team call up in November 2023 at the age of 15 for EuroBasket qualifiers … Made Senior National Team debut against Czech Republic at 2024 Women's EuroBasket Qualifiers … Called back to Senior National Team training camp in 2025.
 
Personal: Father, Cholopoulos, played professional basketball for 15 years, including clubs Airs and Iraklis in Greece's A1 Basketball League … A tutor during all of her high school years … Volunteered her senior year to mentor young girls on her club team … Favorite sports memory is beating Portugal and Czech Republic at U16 Women's Eurobasket 2023 … Also enjoys writing and spending time with family.
 
Griffith on Cholopoulou: "Vas is the ultra-competitor and a tireless worker. She will add immediate depth to our backcourt as a combo guard who has valuable international experience. Vas brings so much joy and flair to the court when she plays, as well as a high IQ and playmaking abilities. She has trained and been tested on the biggest stages in Greece and loves the moment. Her unbreakable desire to be great will carry her far at Columbia."
 
Eirny Erinugha – 6-0 – Fy. – F – CC – Calgary, Alberta, Canada / Edge School / Notre Dame HS
Prior to Columbia: Two-year starter for Edge Prep, missing her senior year due to injury … 2024 Mountaineer of the Year … Scored a career-high 32 points at Edge as a junior … Played at the club level for Canada Elite (2021-23) and Rise Basketball (2019-21, 2024-25) … Two-time Team Alberta Selection … International playing experience with Canada's U16 Junior National Team
 
Personal: Enjoys cooking, biking, listening to music, strength training, sketching and going to church … Passionate about nutrition … Favorite sports memory is representing Team Canada U16.
 
Griffith on Erinugha: "Eirny will add a new dimension to our frontcourt with her power and versatility. She will be a great fit in our system because of her ability to defend 1-5 and play in an up-tempo offense. I'm looking forward to watching her develop and learn from our experienced frontcourt. She is a true two-way player who has an exciting upside and will compete from the moment she arrives on campus."
 
Hilke Feldrappe – 6-3 – Jr. – F – BC – Berlin, Germany / SLZB / MIzzou
Prior to Columbia: Spent two seasons on the University of Missouri women's basketball team (2023-25) … Played in 27 games as a freshman at Mizzou, averaging 10.6 minutes, 2.1 points and 1.1 rebounds … Played in 25 games as a sophomore at Mizzou, averaging 6.2 minutes, 1.1 points and 0.9 rebounds … Prior to college, played club sports in Germany for ALBA Berlin (2020-23) … U18 German Championship Finals MVP … Represented Germany in the U16 European Championship (2019), U18 European Championship (2022), U19 World Cup (2023) and U20 European Championship (2024) and 2025 EuroCup on the German National Team … Averaged 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists in the U20 Euros (2024).
 
Personal: Brother, Friedrich, plays for the University of Saint Joseph men's basketball team in West Hartford, Connecticut … Favorite sports memory is winning the U18 German Championship with ALBA Berlin and moving up to the first division … Enjoys drawing and painting … Volunteered reading books to elementary school students.
 
Griffith on Feldrappe: "Hilke brings invaluable experience and training from her time representing the German National Team over the years. Her length, athleticism and versatility will translate immediately to our style. She has a poised demeanor on the court and great feel for the game; she will fit seamlessly into our system as a hybrid player who can stretch the floor and is trusted to make decisions."
 
Alicia Mitchell – 6-2 – Fy. – F – BC – Springfield, Mass. / Loomis Chaffee
Prior to Columbia: Four-year member of Loomis Chaffee girls basketball team … Played club basketball for Mass Frenzy as a freshman, Springfield Ballers as a sophomore, followed by Idream as a junior and senior.
 
Personal: Father, Donald, was a four-year college basketball player … Sister, Nia, played soccer for two years at Nichols College … Also enjoys reading, music and cooking … Favorite sports memory is reaching 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds as a junior.
 
Griffith on Mitchell: "Alicia will be an exciting addition to our frontcourt. She is a quick learner with major upside because her foundation is solid. Her length, mobility and instincts will translate well to the college game. Also, she competes on both ends and takes pride in being a rim protector and rebounder. Alicia's X-factor is that she is a great teammate and culture driver, which are invaluable assets to our program."
 
Shay Shippen – 5-11 – Fy. – G – CC – Idaho Falls, Idaho / Skyline
Prior to Columbia: Four-year member of the Skyline High School girls basketball team … Also competed in volleyball, track, tennis and golf for Skyline, earning 13 varsity letters in five different sports … Idaho's all-time leading scorer for all divisions with 2,372 career points … Skyline record holder in points, rebounds (1,053), assists (333), free throws, 3-pointers, steals (258) and blocks (69) over 106 career games … Averaged 22.4 points and 9.9 rebounds over her Skyline career … 2025 Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year … Four-time First Team All-State … Four-time Post Register Area Female Athlete of the Year … Idaho State Basketball All-Star Game MVP … Also earned a top three state finish in tennis in mixed doubles (2025) and a top six state finish in singles (2023 and 2024) … Led the state of Idaho in assists in volleyball as a setter in 2023-24 … Qualified for states in the high jump in track … Played club basketball for Natalie Williams Basketball Academy 3SSB (2020-22), FBC Northwest Alliance and FBC United West Coast GUAA (2022-24).
 
Personal: Father, Ty, played men's basketball for BYU and Alaska-Anchorage (2001-03) … Mother, Kaly, played women's basketball for San Diego State and BYU (1998-01) … Brother, Raleigh, competed for Hartnell College men's basketball (2021-2023) … Grandmother, Roanne Rich Gillette, was a Boise State volleyball player who also once held the school record in track in the long jump (1971-73) … Uncle, Trent Shippen, once held NIT 3-point record at Madison Square Garden playing for Colorado State … Aunt, Amy Shippen Mortensen was a cheerleader for BYU, the LA Clippers and San Francisco 49ers … Enjoys church and music … Favorite sports memory is upsetting the undefeated and returning state champions, Blackfoot, in the state semifinals her freshman year.
 
Griffith on Shippen: "Shay is a proven winner at every level she has competed. She is a confident and poised scorer and decision-maker. Her size, strength and versatility allow her to affect the game in multiple ways and at various spots on the court. Her maturity as a basketball player will immediately impact our program as she learns and adapts to our system. I know that Shay will compete from the moment she steps on campus."

--
 
For the latest on the Columbia women's basketball, follow @CULionsWBB on Instagram, X and Facebook, or on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.